Discussion
It's fast, only slow bit if I recall is the final turn, through the chicane onto the start straight. Rewards smoothness.
It's got all the ambience of a 50's Grand Prix circuit, olde poster boards etc which look nice. Wear a trilby or a straw boater
I would watch some of the video from the last members meet, shows what some of the more experienced can do and they're great races
It's got all the ambience of a 50's Grand Prix circuit, olde poster boards etc which look nice. Wear a trilby or a straw boater
I would watch some of the video from the last members meet, shows what some of the more experienced can do and they're great races
I've not been for a few years now, and it was the first circuit I ever drove, but honestly I find it a little boring.
Its fast, which is kinda nice. The only technical bit is the last couple of turns (as the previous poster said). Turn 2 is a fast right-hander which is nice.
But tbh, unless its changed in the last few years, the session format is the most irritating. Its basically a permanent queue; go on, come off, join the back of the queue... miss your place (e.g. for fuel) and end up a session behind because you're further back in the queue
Its worth going once or twice IMO just to have driven it - and for the uniquely vintage atmosphere - but if you want to hit a track half regularly I can't see it being a regular jaunt.
Also expensive.
Its fast, which is kinda nice. The only technical bit is the last couple of turns (as the previous poster said). Turn 2 is a fast right-hander which is nice.
But tbh, unless its changed in the last few years, the session format is the most irritating. Its basically a permanent queue; go on, come off, join the back of the queue... miss your place (e.g. for fuel) and end up a session behind because you're further back in the queue
Its worth going once or twice IMO just to have driven it - and for the uniquely vintage atmosphere - but if you want to hit a track half regularly I can't see it being a regular jaunt.
Also expensive.
I love Goodwood and the track days there are well controlled so they don’t tolerate dangerous driving at all.
The thing that puts me off these days is the queuing to get on track.
Sitting in your car queuing for over an hour to then do 15 minutes on track is a bit boring.
It’s not like to can watch the cars on crack whilst queuing up.
Depending upon the noise limits for the day and how noisy the cars are that are attending they release 5-10 cars on track at once.
So, with a 25 car day running 5 cars at a time you’ll only get a 15 minute session every 80 minutes after factoring in 5 minutes between sessions. That’s a lot of queuing!
Some Goodwood track days I’ve been on have had 40 cars running 5 at a time. That’s was a dealer private day where they also had some ride cars on track.... hence the 5 car limit for paying customers. I gave up and went home late morning after having one track session all morning.
So, I love driving Goodwood and feel it to be the safest and best marshalled but the queuing has really put me off.
It’s a pity they can’t operate a ticket system like at a supermarket deli counter. At least you could then watch and grab a coffee whilst waiting for your next session instead of sitting in your car and moving it 5 places forward every 20 minutes.
The thing that puts me off these days is the queuing to get on track.
Sitting in your car queuing for over an hour to then do 15 minutes on track is a bit boring.
It’s not like to can watch the cars on crack whilst queuing up.
Depending upon the noise limits for the day and how noisy the cars are that are attending they release 5-10 cars on track at once.
So, with a 25 car day running 5 cars at a time you’ll only get a 15 minute session every 80 minutes after factoring in 5 minutes between sessions. That’s a lot of queuing!
Some Goodwood track days I’ve been on have had 40 cars running 5 at a time. That’s was a dealer private day where they also had some ride cars on track.... hence the 5 car limit for paying customers. I gave up and went home late morning after having one track session all morning.
So, I love driving Goodwood and feel it to be the safest and best marshalled but the queuing has really put me off.
It’s a pity they can’t operate a ticket system like at a supermarket deli counter. At least you could then watch and grab a coffee whilst waiting for your next session instead of sitting in your car and moving it 5 places forward every 20 minutes.
wilwak said:
I love Goodwood and the track days there are well controlled so they don’t tolerate dangerous driving at all.
The thing that puts me off these days is the queuing to get on track.
Sitting in your car queuing for over an hour to then do 15 minutes on track is a bit boring.
.......... ..........
It’s a pity they can’t operate a ticket system like at a supermarket deli counter. At least you could then watch and grab a coffee whilst waiting for your next session instead of sitting in your car and moving it 5 places forward every 20 minutes.
This and this.The thing that puts me off these days is the queuing to get on track.
Sitting in your car queuing for over an hour to then do 15 minutes on track is a bit boring.
.......... ..........
It’s a pity they can’t operate a ticket system like at a supermarket deli counter. At least you could then watch and grab a coffee whilst waiting for your next session instead of sitting in your car and moving it 5 places forward every 20 minutes.
And since you’re not allowed to work on your car whilst in the queue (for obvious reasons), for instance topping up oil...... fine, do it in the car park area and then join the back of the queue!
Did Goodwood once, enjoyed the track; won’t be going back again cos it’s poor VFM.
I live 5 mins away from Goodwood and have been on 3 track days there, no interest on going on another unless they bring the price down.
Its a lot of money for not a lot of track time and as previously mentioned a lot of queuing.
I prefer to spend half the money on a track day at Brands/Snetterton or similar money for Silverstone GP with a open pitlane format which i find better value for money.
All that said, if you want to drive Goodwood its a nice circuit very fast but not too technical and the track days are well run.
Its a lot of money for not a lot of track time and as previously mentioned a lot of queuing.
I prefer to spend half the money on a track day at Brands/Snetterton or similar money for Silverstone GP with a open pitlane format which i find better value for money.
All that said, if you want to drive Goodwood its a nice circuit very fast but not too technical and the track days are well run.
Goodwood gets more technical the faster you go 
The prices do seem to have rocketed. I've driven it many many times and still love it. Ime on a 5 car day they manage the numbers really well depending on the noise bucket and you'll often get 7 or 8 cars out if none of them are silly loud. That means you get out once an hour. After lunch people often drift off so you can get out more often than not. I've managed 8 sessions on a day before now.
The prices do seem to have rocketed. I've driven it many many times and still love it. Ime on a 5 car day they manage the numbers really well depending on the noise bucket and you'll often get 7 or 8 cars out if none of them are silly loud. That means you get out once an hour. After lunch people often drift off so you can get out more often than not. I've managed 8 sessions on a day before now.
Last time there, the numbers were so low (PH trackday the day before the Sunday Service last Dec) that you could literally go straight out after finishing a session - never been on such a low numbers day before and probably never again.
However the Circuit is good fun - as someone else mentioned, it gets better the faster you go - I clip the kerb at St Mary’s in my JCW Challenge at circa 100mph and it goes up onto 2 wheels like a BTCC racer
However the Circuit is good fun - as someone else mentioned, it gets better the faster you go - I clip the kerb at St Mary’s in my JCW Challenge at circa 100mph and it goes up onto 2 wheels like a BTCC racer
Biggest problem I’ve found at track days there is snobbery. You expect it to a degree being where and what it is but if your under 35 and don’t drive a sports car’ Ie porche lotus etc then straight away you feel the dagger eyes.
Last time I attended which was last March I think I was black flagged but instead of just waving it from behind the pit wall the Marshall literally stood in the track waving frantically just before pit wall begins.
Driving a old 205 I thought crap something big is wrong like loss of oil etc. Nope none of that. Noise.
So come in get a ear bashing I was 98 on a 96 dB drive by so not horrendous, straight away given final warning when you should have 2 before your final horrah! Fair enough I’ll short shift no problem.
Then they tell me at the same time I need to Carm down as I came out of the chicane and I quote ‘a little hot’.... ok I said but did I exceed the track limits aka grass. Well no. Ok so can I not use the rumble. Well yes. You got some wheel spin though. Yes learning the circuit with new box ratios 2nds to much 3rds the ticket everyone learning on the first session.
And as this conversation comes to a confused end a bloke bounces of the rumble onto the grass foot welded mud everywhere and not a sign or flag...
Not to mention a z4 that hit a tyre wall at lavant and was aloud back out after gaffa tapping his headlights and bonnet ect.
Sorry for a rambling essay but just my 2 pence.
Awesome track a sunny day there and it’s bliss just the politics sessions format and of course the £££.
Simply not worth that amount of cash anymore for the mere working class man.
Oh and that woman Marshall. Jesus wept the woman needs loving!
Last time I attended which was last March I think I was black flagged but instead of just waving it from behind the pit wall the Marshall literally stood in the track waving frantically just before pit wall begins.
Driving a old 205 I thought crap something big is wrong like loss of oil etc. Nope none of that. Noise.
So come in get a ear bashing I was 98 on a 96 dB drive by so not horrendous, straight away given final warning when you should have 2 before your final horrah! Fair enough I’ll short shift no problem.
Then they tell me at the same time I need to Carm down as I came out of the chicane and I quote ‘a little hot’.... ok I said but did I exceed the track limits aka grass. Well no. Ok so can I not use the rumble. Well yes. You got some wheel spin though. Yes learning the circuit with new box ratios 2nds to much 3rds the ticket everyone learning on the first session.
And as this conversation comes to a confused end a bloke bounces of the rumble onto the grass foot welded mud everywhere and not a sign or flag...
Not to mention a z4 that hit a tyre wall at lavant and was aloud back out after gaffa tapping his headlights and bonnet ect.
Sorry for a rambling essay but just my 2 pence.
Awesome track a sunny day there and it’s bliss just the politics sessions format and of course the £££.
Simply not worth that amount of cash anymore for the mere working class man.
Oh and that woman Marshall. Jesus wept the woman needs loving!
I really enjoy Goodwood and go two or three times a year, but recently the prices have rocketed (Goodwood charge £340 plus and others are even more - have a look at Goldtrack and RMA's prices!. I noted that the Octane day is less and includes food) so I may not continue to do so.
It is possible to get a reasonable amount of track time if you go on a 98db day (more cars on track at one time) in the week (less cars attending) but never as much as at an open pit lane day elsewhere. The up side of that is the track is never crowded (try Brands short circuit when there are 20+ cars out!).
A sneaky trick is to come in on the checkered flag and not do a cool down lap - worked in my Lotus but my MINI would throw a hissy fit brake wise if I tried that - means you jump up the queue each time.
By the way - the guy who is doing 100mph through St Mary's in a MINI is doing well... but I expect you mean 'no name' which is the right hander just before the left hander that is actually St Mary's?
It is possible to get a reasonable amount of track time if you go on a 98db day (more cars on track at one time) in the week (less cars attending) but never as much as at an open pit lane day elsewhere. The up side of that is the track is never crowded (try Brands short circuit when there are 20+ cars out!).
A sneaky trick is to come in on the checkered flag and not do a cool down lap - worked in my Lotus but my MINI would throw a hissy fit brake wise if I tried that - means you jump up the queue each time.
By the way - the guy who is doing 100mph through St Mary's in a MINI is doing well... but I expect you mean 'no name' which is the right hander just before the left hander that is actually St Mary's?
Edited by timbo999 on Thursday 10th May 12:04
Roon205 said:
Biggest problem I’ve found at track days there is snobbery. You expect it to a degree being where and what it is but if your under 35 and don’t drive a sports car’ Ie porche lotus etc then straight away you feel the dagger eyes.
Last time I attended which was last March I think I was black flagged but instead of just waving it from behind the pit wall the Marshall literally stood in the track waving frantically just before pit wall begins.
Driving a old 205 I thought crap something big is wrong like loss of oil etc. Nope none of that. Noise.
So come in get a ear bashing I was 98 on a 96 dB drive by so not horrendous, straight away given final warning when you should have 2 before your final horrah! Fair enough I’ll short shift no problem.
Then they tell me at the same time I need to Carm down as I came out of the chicane and I quote ‘a little hot’.... ok I said but did I exceed the track limits aka grass. Well no. Ok so can I not use the rumble. Well yes. You got some wheel spin though. Yes learning the circuit with new box ratios 2nds to much 3rds the ticket everyone learning on the first session.
And as this conversation comes to a confused end a bloke bounces of the rumble onto the grass foot welded mud everywhere and not a sign or flag...
Not to mention a z4 that hit a tyre wall at lavant and was aloud back out after gaffa tapping his headlights and bonnet ect.
Sorry for a rambling essay but just my 2 pence.
Awesome track a sunny day there and it’s bliss just the politics sessions format and of course the £££.
Simply not worth that amount of cash anymore for the mere working class man.
Oh and that woman Marshall. Jesus wept the woman needs loving!
Hmmmm that's kind of put me off lol. Last time I attended which was last March I think I was black flagged but instead of just waving it from behind the pit wall the Marshall literally stood in the track waving frantically just before pit wall begins.
Driving a old 205 I thought crap something big is wrong like loss of oil etc. Nope none of that. Noise.
So come in get a ear bashing I was 98 on a 96 dB drive by so not horrendous, straight away given final warning when you should have 2 before your final horrah! Fair enough I’ll short shift no problem.
Then they tell me at the same time I need to Carm down as I came out of the chicane and I quote ‘a little hot’.... ok I said but did I exceed the track limits aka grass. Well no. Ok so can I not use the rumble. Well yes. You got some wheel spin though. Yes learning the circuit with new box ratios 2nds to much 3rds the ticket everyone learning on the first session.
And as this conversation comes to a confused end a bloke bounces of the rumble onto the grass foot welded mud everywhere and not a sign or flag...
Not to mention a z4 that hit a tyre wall at lavant and was aloud back out after gaffa tapping his headlights and bonnet ect.
Sorry for a rambling essay but just my 2 pence.
Awesome track a sunny day there and it’s bliss just the politics sessions format and of course the £££.
Simply not worth that amount of cash anymore for the mere working class man.
Oh and that woman Marshall. Jesus wept the woman needs loving!
The day is being organised for Romans International customers. So if I do go, I'll be showing up in my little Mini.
Still in two minds.
timbo999 said:
A sneaky trick is to come in on the checkered flag and not do a cool down lap - worked in my Lotus but my MINI would throw a hissy fit brake wise if I tried that - means you jump up the queue each time.
We used to stop people doing exactly that when we ran days there. Edited by timbo999 on Thursday 10th May 12:04
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